Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I've done a brief (fruitless, no pun intended...) search but was wondering if crabapples are toxic to box turtles? I am considering planting a crabapple tree in a future box turtle pen.

Thanks,
Michael B.

I don't believe they are harmful. Box turtles usually do not eat things they can't handle. My grandmother made crabapple jelly back in the day, so I don't think there is anything wrong with them eating the apples anyway.

Crabapples are probably harmless to box turtles.
They are, however, very prone to a wide array of diseases, and are very susceptible to insect problems, so you won't be able to treat your tree problems with any kind of chemicals that will be effective, without risking the health of your turtles.
Stephanie

Hmm. Didn't know they were easily susceptable to diseases.

But, the wife and I are already down with the no-chemical plan.
Besides, the tree was 75% off at home desperate last night, which= $10 for a 7ft tree

Thanks for the info,
-michael

Was it the one with the flower that looks like miniature roses?

both apple and crab apple trees get little flowers on them, around here crab apples grow wild and we supposedly have wild eastern box turtles around here(though I have yet to find one) so there's a good chance crab apples are in their diet.. but who knows

A friend has one of those new genetically enginered crabapples that has very large flowers (walnut sized) The apples get pretty large, although not as large as the flower.

around here the fruit get almost the size of a plum or a small peach, the flowers are about the size of a penny maybe a nickle